Top tips to get your
fi nances in check after the Christmas crunch
Christmas is a time to eat, drink and most defi nitely be merry, all of which can take their toll on your bank account. With plenty of festivities taking place throughout December, the opportunity to overspend is all too easy; often leaving your bank account looking less than healthy come January. Personal loan provider, Hitachi Personal Finance, has collated a simple list of top tips for getting your fi nances back on track post-Christmas. 1. Refresh your budget You may already have a budget in place and it might not feel like anything has changed, but use the New Year as an opportunity to look at your expenditure and update it where necessary. That extra £5 on the car insurance or added spend on a gym membership may not seem like much, but it can all add up and needs accounting for. Keeping your budget in-check means you will have a clearer idea of what you have left over each month, reducing the likelihood of overspending. 2. Compare the market While you’re in the process of updating your budget, it’s a good opportunity to also look at your bills to see where you can get a better deal and save money. Looking around at diff erent deals on your utility bills can often result in signifi cant savings, so get these in place as early as possible, to put your fi nances in the best position for the year ahead. 3. De-clutter Whether it’s duplicate presents or clothes that just aren’t quite to your taste, we all end up with things we don’t necessarily want or need at Christmas. What’s more, when the shiny new things replace the existing ones, the old items often end up tucked away in a cupboard to gather dust. But before you reach for the bin bags, consider selling your unwanted items to earn a bit of extra cash. 4. Get organised If you have any debt that you’re trying to get rid of, then take stock and prioritise what you want to pay off fi rst. Those with higher interest rates are likely to cost you more in the long-run, so it’s generally a good idea to start with these, and leave any with no interest until last. 5. Go dry for January The Dry January initiative is not only a great way to get your health and fi tness back on track in the New Year, but it’s also an eff ective way of easing some pressure on your fi nances during the month. Get your friends and family on-board to take on the challenge together and you’ll soon see how much you can save by giving up alcohol. If cutting out that glass of wine isn’t for you, or you’re not a big drinker anyway, consider cutting out something else that you do spend on, such as meals out or Saturday shopping sprees. 6. Start saving for next year It may seem too early to be thinking about next year when this one has only just begun, but it’s never too soon to start planning. January is a great time to get your savings plan in place for the year ahead, and you’ll be glad you did when you don’t have to suff er the festive hangover this time next year. Factor your savings plan into your budget and keep a regular check on it throughout the year to make sure it’s feasible and on track.
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LETTER TO EDITOR Dear Editor,
I would like to thank all those who have supported the work of Barnardo’s Cymru during the last 12 months.
It is thanks to you that we have been able to extend our work to help 8,250 children, young people and families across Wales.
That help has positively changed the lives of children who have been affected by abuse, mental health issues and disability. We have supported young people in care and those leaving care, children whose parents are in prison and families of veterans. We have given young carers the resilience to cope with caring for sick and disabled parents and siblings and we’ve given parents the skills they need to cope with the challenges of family life. We have found safe, new homes for children in care and forever homes for children adopted through the Barnardo’s Cymru Adoption and Fostering Service. We continue to help children and young people affected by forms of abuse; such as child sexual exploitation and traffi cking and help young asylum seekers and their families to settle in a new country. We couldn’t have done it without our volunteers who help in our shops, support our children’s services and fundraise and we couldn’t have done it without everyone who has donated to Barnardo’s during the last year. We face many challenges in 2018 but know that with your support we can continue to make a difference to the lives of the most vulnerable children, children like Abbie, 15, who we have helped recover from abuse. So I’ll leave you with her words. “I have turned things around and I know I couldn’t have done it without my Barnardo’s worker. She understood me and believed in me. She made me understand that everyone deserves a second chance.”
Sarah Crawley - Director, Barnardo’s Cymru
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